What do you recommend that I do or see while visiting Detroit? I'll be there early July for a conference and I'm wondering if I should book some extra days there. Thanks for any recommendations.

I trust "stay safe" will be suggested. Any thoughts where NOT to go?

No.

Okay... I'm biased. I spent my high-school years in the Detroit/Windsor area, and there's not much to recommend about the place. Windsor has a very large number of nudie bars, and the drinking age is lower. It has a casino. The only cool thing about Detroit that I remember is Greektown. There's a casino around there, now, too (IIRC -- the Windsor Casino was siphoning off too much cash). Joe Louis arena is neat from a historical perspective, if you're a hockey fan, or if there are any concerts going on. Depending on what "early" is (i.e. July 1st-4th), then the International Peace Festival is really cool, with lots of fireworks -- it's a big combined Canada/US birthday party. If you're into museums, there's the Motown museum (never been there), and the Henry Ford museum/Greenfield Village (which can be a complete day or more, alone).

Worthwhile day trips from the Detroit area include Cedar Point (in Ohio), and Toronto (okay... this ought to be more than a day trip).

Without a doubt, the best thing to do in Detroit is to go to Windsor. Or go home.

Sadly, the city center is economically nonviable, and the wealthy surrounding areas have nothing to see.

And when that's the best thing to do, you might as well just go home.

My bad... that's the International Freedom Festival.

Well, I suppose you could go see a Tigers game. They seem to actually be doing pretty well this season.

This reminds me of Tony's 'Things to see in Grantham' thread.

The last time Detroit came up I just linked to an image of Dr. Klahn, but now we can do Youtube embeds, so...

I second the Henry Ford museum. Went there last summer and it was pretty cool. Surprisingly there were not as many cars as I would have thought. I liked the world’s oldest motor, or water pump, or something, best. Anyway, it was some super old motor made in the 1600’s to pump water.

The car highlight was the Tucker. I’ve seen a lot of old cars but never a Tucker.

The Dymaxion House was also pretty cool.

Ok, Ford Museum it is. And the rest of the time, I'll stay at the convention.

I love automotive museums, and have a goal of seeing all my favorite manufacturers. I've seen BMW in Munich and Mercedes-Benz and Porsche in Stuttgart. I hope to see Volvo in Sweeden if they have one (before it moves to China). Ford will round out that list nicely for me. Thanks.

And, I've got a soft spot for Bucky Fuller. Thanks redrum.

For certain values of good,

http://www.artificialowl.net/2008/09/abandoned-michigan-central-station.html

http://www.artificialowl.net/2008/09/abandoned-detroit-public-schools-book.html

I was going to be snarky and reply like this:


My thoughts would be to not go to Detroit.

But I held my tongue.

P.S. Go Blackhawks!

I don’t know if they still have them around but there were parking lots that had designated parking for foreign and domestic cars. Of course the foreign car parking is at the end of the lot. If you have a foreign car don’t park in the lot that states “For Domestic cars only.” Your tires will thank you.

The Henry Ford Museum is not an automotive museum, it is an American History museum, which has some automotive exhibits. The museum also has, for example the chair that Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated.

There is a Chrysler museum that is just Chrysler history.